Religious symbols fine for newsreaders, says Alagiah

BBC newsreaders should be allowed to wear religious symbols such as a crucifix or headscarf but it would prove too difficult for them to wear a veil, according to BBC journalist George Alagiah.

Following the recent debate over BBC anchor Fiona Bruce wearing a cross, Six O'Clock News and BBC World's World News Today presenter Alagiah said he did not see why Bruce shouldn't wear her crucifix.

Alagiah, who recently received critical acclaim for raising the issue of multiculturalism in his autobiography, A Home from Home, said he could not see anything wrong with anchors wearing headscarves.

However, he went on to say that a veil would prove a problem, saying: "Do I think it would be difficult for a newsreader to wear a veil? Yes."

He said: "If you are in the communications business your aim is to reach as many people as possible. What you wear plays a part so you have to make a judgment on that basis.

"To pretend it makes no difference if someone wears a complete veil - it does make a difference and it would be dishonest and naive to say it wouldn't. No one should pretend it doesn't matter. We should listen to the majority of our viewers.

Alagiah said that if a presenter really wanted to wear a veil then she could always "go on radio" where the visual barrier would be less obvious.

The former foreign correspondent - who is going to Sudan at the weekend for a special report - said that although the BBC has strict guidelines on remaining impartial, he is open about having to make judgments on his new show World News Today.

Speaking at a launch for BBC World in London, Alagiah said: "I choose my words carefully here. The other thing [that there is] space for in this programme [World News Today] is judgment, and that's different from opinion.

"There's a lot of opinion out there ... especially in the US. I don't think we have opinions, we have judgment.

"I've learnt as a foreign correspondent how important impartiality and trust are in making a judgment. Where, when you're talking to a victim of genocide and a perpetrator of genocide, is the middle point? There's no middle point there, you have to make a judgment. We should be honest about this."

Alagiah also said that, with rising costs, he feared that fewer news organisations - apart from the BBC - would be able to keep correspondents on the frontline of dangerous war zones.

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